[dogma1138]

True; but this isn't some "stone age" tribe from the Amazon that shoots arrows at passing helicopters.

They are exposed to the modern world; even if they don't have access to its amenities all the time.

They understand the concepts of flight, electricity, the internet and modern techonology at large.

The village in question has a facebook page, if you google it you'll see that there are enough results like this one http://www.gy.undp.org/content/guyana/en/home/presscenter/ar... to show that whilst it's fairly undeveloped it's not exactly "backwater".

People in that village seem to have cell phones, internet access, and are not really cut off from the world, the article seem to frame it like they went from sharpening wooden arrows on stones to building drones which they clearly haven't.

So yeah, I don't really see what is so amazing about a few people in a remote village constructing an over the counter drone[0] I would actually be insulted by the fact that I'm expected to be "amazed" by that and I find the entire notion very condescending towards those people.

If you strip down the fluff of the article it almost boils down to "How quaint, look at these savages constructing RC aircraft"....

[0]http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/phantom-fx-61-flying-win...

[beambot]

Counterpoint: they are operating a drone in the jungle around illegal loggers who probably aren't happy about it.

I can't seem to keep my drone in one piece without constant deliveries of new parts to my doorstep, and I'm just dinking around in empty parks and parking lots.

Theirs sounds more impressive ("incredible" if you will). I would even be impressed if it was a big official government program.

[dogma1138]

"impressive" at the end this is a case where an NGO got them a few RC foam aircraft with cameras that the fly and maintain.

These aren't some stone age people, they can keep the foam parts together with duct tape; they aren't manufacturing electronics.

The article made it sound like they are doing something super special beyond their natural ability which is condescending, i really loved the part about the "bowstring" and the "lollipop stick" as a drill, I've built a similar airframe and it actually comes with lollipop sticks to fit the holes and to be inserted into the foam for support, and the bowstring well they tell you to tie somethings with a lightweight string in the manual ;)

Yes I know it's not easy to get these things all over the world, but these aren't stupid people; they are aware of modern technology and clearly can use it and they have the same ingenuity as anyone else.

[beambot]

Someone calls their accomplishment "incredible" and you immediately jump to the conclusion that the author finds it "incredible, because these backwards folks are from the stone age"? You don't think: Maybe, just maybe, the author finds it incredible because it's an inspiring story & technical accomplishment? That, given their own experiences as an average joe, the author (like me) can't keep their own drones together with duct tape... and it is "incredible" that in 2016 individuals and small communities can band together using insanely-awesome technology to solve problems like this? (The "stone age" argument seems like a strawman to me.)

Using a drone to successfully solve any real, practical problem is an accomplishment in my book. I don't care who they are or where they do it. Add extra challenges and it makes it even more awesome -- eg. Geography: unlike me, they don't have Amazon Prime 2-day shipping on replacement parts. I think their accomplishment is incredible. But maybe I'm easy to impress...?

FYI, to use GP's analogy: If a 15 year old from Nebraska (Go Huskers!) used a drone to stop illegal logging or pollution, I'd call it incredible too! We are capable of some serious SciFi "magic" these days!

EDIT: Or to put this another way... have you done anything half as incredible as stopping illegal loggers with your drones...?

[dannypgh]

Calling something "incredible" means you are saying it's difficult or impossible to believe. That is very easily not a compliment, depending on context.